What led you to BBC?I was teaching in the area at Penn State's Scranton campus, and I attend Parker Hill Community Church. I love the BBC campus and would come often for walks. I became a friend of BBC in my heart. My good friend is (Assistant Professor) Dave Shumaker, and as I was getting to the point in my career where I was really interested in curriculum he and I would talk often about Christian college education. It was through him I really got connected to BBC. God certainly had a plan, and when He does, it cannot be stopped or derailed. It was all Him.

What vision do you have for BBCs business program?I love this school and I think it does a wonderful job. My goal is not to change or interfere with any of that training. My goal is to help extend students' skill base, not turn out a new kind of person. My concern is that there has always been this divide between Christians and business. That is not necessary.

How have you been involved in our business program so far? First, we must make sure we take care of our immediate responsibilities to those students who have already trusted us in the program. At the same time, we are starting to think about where we want to go in the future. We have a distinct identity that we want to create for the program. We must craft the program so it speaks for itself. We know we are not the only players in the field, so we have to have a distinct identity in the coming years. But for now, our first responsibility is to the students who are already here.

What is your past business experience? Well, every business person has experience in starting businesses of one kind or another. We each have success stories and tales of woe. You know, you are always one idea away from starting a great business. It is not the failures that matter; its what you do with the failures that matter. I have run businesses, I have consulted, and I have taught. Right now I prefer consulting versus running businesses, but my passion is academia.

Where have you been academically? For my undergraduate degree, I attended University of Law School in Nigeria. After that, I attended the University of Sterling in Scotland for graduate studies, and after grad school I went to work in London. But I knew I wanted an academic career, so I went back for a Ph.D., in order to teach, and finished my doctorate work in 1997. I continued post-doctoral work in London, England, and from there I went to teach at Penn State in Scranton for about five years.

What or who led you to faith in Christ? That happened in high school. I had a friend who spoke of a student fellowship. He had been asking me and I wasn't interested. I was born into a Christian home but church was what you did on Sundays. Christianity was just a list of rules to me. I don't know if I was bored or something, but one day I just wandered into this student fellowship meeting. I had never heard of the Gospel before I went. I was about 12.

Where are you originally from? Nigeria. The country is half Christianity and half Islam. The part where I am from is split down the middle, so I grew up in Christianity and Islam.

What advice would you give to someone desiring to go into the business field? To learn to stay the course. It is like life in the sense that there is no easy path, but you have to be determined to stay the course and not be put off by the stumbles in the building up process. While there are certain advantages that someone might have if they grew up here or there, or in a certain period of time, you can help bring that skill out in someone. But if you track most successful business careers, they end up in a different place than when they started. Be willing to learn and then just keep going. An open mind is quite important. Find mentors. There are some things you should know, but you don't have to be born to do those things. The abilities can be taught.

What is your view of the importance of a biblical education in business? It boils down to the worldview. You come away from here with certain skills and knowledge about business, but that becomes the arena where you can apply the worldview. I wouldn't want a program that messed with biblical education. It has to be the center of it.

What is it like being here at BBC? It is hard for me to put into words how special this place is. My whole career I have been in secular and Islamic settings, so it's refreshing to be here in a place like this. It is all very special. We're very thankful to have the chance to be here. I pray that people have a certain trust in the people that hired me. It is only by God's grace that I am here, and I think we have a great future.

The story of Baptist Bible College & Seminary is best told through the lives of students and alumni. Share your story and tell others how God has been leading in your life. Visit www.bbc.edu/yourstory.

Baptist Bible College & Seminary offers an outstanding Christian education through on campus, online, and other distance learning options. Students learn to serve and lead as they gain critical leadership and life skills.